News & Multimedia

World-Class DJ's Afrojack, Diplo to Perform in Indy 500 Snake Pit

March 06, 2013 | By IMS

World-renowned electronic DJs Afrojack and Diplo will headline the party in the Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite during the 97th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Rising star DJ Topher Jones, an Indianapolis native, also will perform in the Snake Pit.
Located inside Turn 3 in the massive IMS infield, the Snake Pit features world-class DJ’s and other festivities that will open at 7 a.m. on Race Day and will rock IMS until the checkered flag waves. Any fan with a Race Day ticket and free Snake Pit wristband will be admitted. Music starts at 7 a.m.

Besides the live music, activities in the Snake Pit will include one of the world’s largest water slides, a zipline, volleyball, corn hole, body painting, food trucks, darts, hula hoops, breakdancers, go-go dancers and more.

“The Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite has grown into a major attraction on Race Day in just two years,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. “The fun party has helped attract electronic superstars such as Afrojack and Diplo, who will provide the perfect exciting, energetic soundtrack for our fans in the Snake Pit on Race Day.”

Two-time Grammy Award winner Afrojack has become a world icon in electronic dance music. Known by his more familiar stage name, Nick van de Wall started his career as a DJ in his hometown of Spijkenisse, Netherlands, where he created some hard-hitting underground releases. Afrojack’s career exploded in 2010 when he unveiled “Take Over Control,” which became a worldwide club and chart hit that went platinum in the U.S.

Afrojack produced a series of club hits before his collaboration with David Guetta that created the worldwide smash “Titanium.” In 2011, he co-wrote and produced “Give Me Everything” with Pitbull, Ne-Yo and Nayer, which has sold more than 5 million copies. He took home his first Grammy in 2011 for Best Remix (Madonna, “Revolver”), worked with Beyonce on “Run the World (Girls),” and his partnership with Leona Lewis delivered the 2012 Grammy-nominated remix “Collide.”

Afrojack is a dance music artist whose skills as a high-energy concert performer are coveted around the world. His North America “Jacked” tour in 2012 featured many sold-out shows, and he performed seven days a week during his European summer tour at major festivals throughout the continent. He solidified his own imprint, Wall Recordings, as a pioneering club music brand – a value he holds dear as label boss and ensures with every release.

Afrojack released his brand-new single, “As Your Friend” featuring Chris Brown, which has quickly climbed the charts. The track marks the first release off of his highly anticipated debut album, set to release this summer.

Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo, is one of the most dynamic forces in music today. He is as much as an international brand (tastemaker, spokesman, curator) as he is a musician/DJ/producer. Year after year, he’s proven himself to be an ubiquitous cultural figure, consistently bridging high and low, mainstream and underground, with remarkable tact and reverence.

In 2004, after studying film at Temple University, throwing influential parties in South Philadelphia and releasing multiple mixtapes promoting the aesthetic of his party, Hollertronix, Pentz cemented himself as a full-fledged artist through his debut album, “Florida.” Receiving praise within the underground community, “Florida” caught the attention of XL Recording’s newest act at the time - M.I.A. - who partnered with Pentz to release mixtape “Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1.” This pivotal mixtape (listed by the New York Times and Pitchfork Media as “Album of the Year”) helped build buzz for M.I.A.’s debut and boosted Diplo’s reputation as a scene-spotter, championing the mongrel pop of the global underclass to the speakers of American clubs.

Diplo would continue to work with M.I.A. on her first and second albums, eventually creating the Grammy-nominated track “Paper Planes” in 2007, which hit No. 4 in the U.S. Hot 100 Charts and sold more than 3 million copies.

In 2005, Diplo founded label/culture lab Mad Decent to serve as a showcasing platform for the myriad of fascinating sounds Pentz encounters while touring the world. Diplo has also utilized the label to produce the annual and infamous Mad Decent block parties – a series of free outdoor dance party/concerts in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Toronto, and Los Angeles.

Indianapolis native Jones will perform on the decks at the Snake Pit presented by Miller Lite. Jones, who lives in Chicago, is a breakout house DJ and producer signed to Ultra Records.

Jones’ latest single, “Brohammer,” was called a “beast of a track” by EDM legend Gareth Emery, hit the top 10 overall on Beatport and has received support from DJs across the globe. Featuring a Nari & Milani remix, Brohammer smashed festival sets and became a 2012 anthem.

His music has been played by DJs across musical genres, from Tiesto to Skrillex, Armin van Buuren to Knife Party, Emery to Deadmau5, Above and Beyond to Pendulum.

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